Chapter 8a
PLAYER POSITIONING
​COMMUNICATION SKILLS 

On a mobile device? Turn your phone sideways

Illustration courtesy of Parlay Nation

The table image above is color coded into four sections on the hardway image and the table. Notice the 'front four' players 1 thru 4 both sides (blue & orange) Now look at the the 'back four' players 5 thru 8 (yellow & pink). The stick dealer positions the players hardways by where they stand at the table. If the player moves to a different location of the game, you will move their bet(s) to the new location. Think of it as a map. 

​Generally the players toss their bets to the stick (that would be you) that the base dealer will repeat out loud to insure you understand exactly what they want to bet. The base dealer will communicate to you who is betting what.....how much $..... and where they stand at the table. Example: "All the Hardways, a dollar each next to you" - This would be player one on the map. Base dealer on the other side of the table yells out "$5 hard 10, your second" (or "two from you") meaning player two. The base dealer yells out "6 & 8 hard $1 each your third" (or "three from you") or "Your fourth" (or "four from you")

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The 'back side' players 5-8....
The base dealer may yell out "All the hardways, $1 each next to me" This would be player 8

​The base dealer may yell out "All the hardways $1 each my second" (or "two from me") This would be player 7

The base dealer may yell out "All the hardways $1 each "Down the middle" This would be player 6 which buy the way is the most popular spot to stand for players. 

Base dealer may yell out "All the hardways $1 each on the hook" This would be player 5

Position the player by where they put their chips on the rail.  

Illustration courtesy of Parlay Nation

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Now, as the stick dealer your communication with the base dealer will be to pay the players when they win. You cant pay anyone. Only the base dealer can do that. You will position the stick behind the pass line (on the felt) in front of the winning player.

Hard 10 rolls.....
You pick up all the losing one-roll bets and take notice who has bets on the hard 10. Using the stick, starting from base to stick, on the side the dice landed on, you point and instruct base dealer "Pay $7 hard 10 money next to you" This would be the player 8 standing next to base dealer. You make sure exactly $7 in chips is paid to that player.

​Pointing the stick on the felt behind the pass-line, "Pay $7 hard 10 your second". This would be player 7 on the map.
"Pay $7 hard ten money down the middle"
"On the hook"
"My fourth" (or "four from me")"My third" (or "three from me")

On a mobile device? Turn your phone sideways

Using the butt of the stick (the end where you are holding it) you position your hand half way up and announce...
"My second" (or "two from me")
"Next to me"

Now, suppose a player with their chips in the 7 spot at the table bets a prop or hardway, the base dealer would 'book' the bet as "My second spot" even though the player is next to the base dealer, there is an open spot on the rail directly next to base (player 8) - you should always anticipate that the table will fill up and we want to position player hardway bets where the player puts their chips on the rail more so than where they stand.

The stick dealer is also a supervisor? True. You will be expected not only to have total control of the hardest bets to pay (the Props) but also expected to insure proper dealing procedures are adhered to on the the side of the table the dice land on.....YOU are responsible for any mistakes that base dealer may make. The Box watches the dealer's end where the dice were thrown from. Not easy.

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And....when you're on the stick instructing the base dealer how much to pay the players that win in the prob box, all eyes are on YOU. There could be 16 players on the game, two base dealers and a box supervisor watching you. If the game is losing big, you may have a floor supervisor and a pit manager or shift manager watching you. Oh, and don't forget about surveillance cameras pointed at you with camera operators watching all this play out on TV monitors. The eye in the sky we call it. 

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I don't care if you are a mathematical wiz from Harvard, dealing a busy craps game with thousands at risk on every roll will be nerve racking as a new dealer.

And if you are wrong on any payoff.....it will seem like the world is about to end. lol

You must be prepared. That's why I'm here.

Outside looking in, this job seems easy and fun. It is, if you are confident in your ability to successfully handle anything that comes your way. Getting there takes preparation. Knowledge in payoffs, remembering who bet what and for how much. Base dealers are suppose to help remember but don't count on it.

• You never pay bets on stick. Always instruct base dealer to pay
• You never take cash. You should say "Change only" whenever cash hits the layout. Don't touch it.
• You never accept chips from players hand to hand. Always instruct them to drop them on the layout.
• Your voice needs to be loud crisp and clear.
• You dictate the pace of the game.
• You must advertise betting when it is appropriate. Come-out roll demands advertising prop bets, after an established point is marked your job now dictates advertising hardways, come bets, place bets.
• I recommend not using any emotion when calling the dice. ie..."Seven-out" in a sad tone. 
• You will have to instruct players on certain things from time to time such as not betting late, keeping their hands up away from the dice, instructing the shooter to bounce the dice off the back wall, not throw them short, not playing with the dice before they shoot.
• Instructions to a player must be of an authoritarian tone. Not a mean tone or an aggressive tone, you never want to sound mean, they wont hear the instructions. They will only only hear the aggressive tone in your voice and will respond in similar fashion.
• You should always use the word "please" when educating a player in proper etiquette. Use the stick to get their attention by gently placing it on the felt near them. You must warn players first without emotion, second offence will be handled by supervisors.
• You will keep your cool at all times. Sometimes players get emotional and argumentative. Let the box supervisor or floor supervisor handle this situation.
• Sometimes your supervisors or a base dealer can get a bit emotional with you. Keep your cool on a live game. Discuss whatever you may disagree with off the game. But while you are dealing a live game, suck it up. 
•  Players are not supposed to handle the dice with more than one hand nor take the dice past the edge of the table. The only way to change hands when throwing dice, if permitted at all, is to have them set the dice on the table, let go, then take them with the other hand.
• If the shooter drops a die on the floor, you are to instruct the player to set both dice down and you bring them to box supervisor for inspection. 
• Always keep your eyes on the dice regardless of what is happening around you. If the dice leave you sight, for whatever reason, demand the player set them on the table for inspection.
• All your one-roll only prop bets and hardways....Winning bets are paid and kept "up to win again" on the table unless specified otherwise by the player.  

No roll:

• If the player throws the dice off the table and it lands in the pit where players are not allowed "NO ROLL DIE DOWN INSIDE"
• If the player throws the dice off the table and it lands outside pit area "NO ROLL DIE DOWN "OUTSIDE"
• No roll if of one lands on top of bank of chips in front of box supervisor.
• No roll if one lands in the bowl 
• No roll if the throw is so short as not to pass the half way mark of center table.
• ​No roll if anyone other than the original shooter throws the dice.
• No roll if shooter accidentally drops a die on the table.
• Whatever a die leans upon, the rubber wall around the inside of the table, or a die leans on a bet (chips)..... imagine the object is ice.
  
  If the ice melts.....what number would be on top of die?  

Next.....
HARDWAY BETS


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